Effect of them is Worfe, for it tends to no other Iffue (to the publick) than this, viz. to Harden Men in their fins by the Means of Impunity. For the only End of publick Juftice is to Correct ill Men, and make them do Right whether they will or no; to bring Criminals to Repentance, and meliorate the World by the Example of their Punishment: Whereas All thole Artifices through which Men aim at Impunity, directly fruftrate this Good End, and render Men fecure in the fuit of their ill Inclinations: which they must stand Accountable for who might have binder'd it.

pur

IV. The laft Pofition was this, That the Sentence of Judgment is God's Sentence: i. e. It is elpoufed by God, and taken into his Own Account, and fhall be fo Imputed at the Judgment which fhall be Univerfal. And this Confideration may serve as Effectually to difcover the Folly of perverting Judgment,

The Traveller when overtaken by a Storm gets himself to a Tree, and when he is there, he pleases himself with the Commodiousness of his Shelter; but if the Shower happen to be so strong as once to break through the Boughs, then he finds to his disappointment that the Standing, wherein he lately pleased himfelf, is Now become more infufferable than

any part of the Open Road: And just fo it happens when any Man meets with Protection or Covert from any Unjuft or Misguided Sentence of Judgment; when either his Falfe Titles are Confirmed, or his Injuries Concealed by any Favour

or

Mifrepresentation of the Court: The Foolish Litigant hugs himself, that now he is fafe, because he has a Verdict on his fide; because his Penny is faved, or his Credit unexposed, by reason of those Practices which have paft on his behalf; But he thinks not in the mean time, that by and by the Storm will ceartainly beat through the Covert, and then his Station

1

will be able to afford him no fafety Then he will complain of that Success, which now he calls his Good Fortune; and wish that either Force had brought him to Right, or Shame to Repentance; that fo he might have taken Refuge under fome more Durable Shelter.

You therefore, whofoever pretend to have Favour for Any, whose Faults have made them Obnoxious to the Laws, fhew your Friendship in this, Help to clear them against the Great Affize; Help to bring them to Repentance and Satisfaction; and Remember that it is absolute Cruelty to affift a Man from being Just and Good,

And You (My Lords) give me Leave to offer you one Advice, which is this, That You would look upon Your Jelves and Your Affiftants as the most Lively Refemblance that the World affords, of our Saviour Chrift coming in the Clouds with his Holy Angels: Be pleased therefore but to think this of Your felves, and to P 4 act

act in Contemplation of this Refemblance; And then we doubt not but All You do will tend to the publick Welfare, and to the Glory of Him for whom You are to Judge.

To whom be Glory and Thanksgiving for ever and ever.

Amen.

A

A

FRIENDLY CALL

TO OUR

Diffenting Brethren.

A

SERMON

Preached before the

LORD MAYOR, 1688.

St. JOHN XVI. 31, 32.

Do ye now believe? Behold the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be feat. tered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone.

T

HIS Day in the Kalender of the Church bears the name of Rogation Sunday, as being the Head of a Sea

fon